Alexander w



(No Model.)v

A. W. GADMAN.

GAS REGULATOR.

No. 329,011. y Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

y lhvrrnn @raras Farrar @triceo ALEXANDER NV. OADMAN, OF STERRET'I, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA.

GASREGULATR`.

EIITt-SCEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,011, dated October 27, 18555 Application filed August 3, 1885. `SerialNo.173,337. (No model.)

To aZZ whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER W. CAD- MAN, of Sterrett township, in the county of Allegheuyand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas- Regulators, and I do hereby declare the following to bc a full, clear, and exact description thereof,vreference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved regulator, thc tank and its foundation being shown-in vertical section.` Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow a. Fig. 3 is a-vertical cross-section cf the valves 2and 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is ahorirontal section on the line .r x of Fig. 3.

, `Like lettersrand figures of reference indicate like parts in' each.

In the drawings,4 is a gas-regulator tank of ordinary construction which is mounted upon a vertical pipe, 5, as a standard, upon which it is movable vertically in either direction within certain limits. A tubular sheath or casing, 6, is arranged axially within the tank 4, and projects through the top thereof, to which itis also suitably secured. This sheath encircles the standardpipe 5, and serves the purpose of steadying the tank as it moves up and down thereon, and of preventing the escape of gas. The tank 4 is open at the bottom, and is surrounded by the ordinary water-lled tank, 7 The standard 5 is hollow, and communicates at its top,above the tank 4, with a gas-supply pipe, 8, and at the bottom, within the tank 7, is reexed the vertical recurrent arm 5a, re-entering thetank 4, and terminating therein above the level of the water. (See Fig. l.) The gas enters the tank through the standard 5, thereby causing it to perform a double function, which I have found to be of remarkable practical utility.

Just back of the connection of the pipe 5 with the supply-pipe 8 the latter is provided with a regulating valve or cock, 2, the stem of which projects laterally, and is connected by a system of levers or other mechanical devices with the tank 4, in such manner that as the tank rises and Afalls it will impart a positive rotary motion to the valve. The last lever of the system is pivoted to the tank at a point, b.

The construction of the valve 2 is shown in A will gradually open until the pivot b reaches thepoint lf2-when the valve will be opened to its fullest extent, and that as it rises from thepoint b2 the valve will gradually close until it reaches its highest point, bwhen the valve will be completely shut off. During the downward motionof the tank from the point b2 to b a reverse series of operations will take place, the valve continuing to open from b3 to b2 and closing from b2 to b.

Back of the valve 2 the supply-pipe 8 is provided with a valve or cock, 3, to the stem of which is affixed a projecting lever,10. This lever is joined by a chain, 11,or other flexible connection to the end'of one of the levers, 9, which forms part of the system connecting the valve 2 with the tank 4. The chain` end Vof the lever falls with the rise of the tank, and is elevated by its descent, and as the tank falls Will exert a tension on the chain 11, `and will turn the valve 3 to close it. If the tank be allowed to descend to its lowest positiomb', it will shut the valve Sto close it entirely. After that the risc of the tank, while it will operate the valve 2, would have no effect on the valve 3, by reason of its flexible connection. Depression of the lever l0 opens the valve.

A by-pass or pipe, l2, of small diameter relatively to the supply-pipe 8, enters the latter back of the valve 3, and extends in a line preferably parallel with the supply-pipe to a point forward of the valve 2, where it reenters the pipe. The bypass is provided with a cut-off valve, 13, the projecting lever 14 of which rests upon the inner end of the lever 9, which rises and falls with the tank,or it may be prolonged and rest directly upon the surface of the tank itself. The effect of motion of the tank on the valve 13 is to close itv by raising the lever 14. rIdhe descent of the tank has no effect on the valve.

Forward of the valve 2, and preferably opposite to the entrance of pipe 5, is a short vertical pipe, l5, in which is a common push ICO safety-valve,the elevation of whose stem allows gas to escape through a waste-pipe,16. The valve-lever 17 ,which operates the safety-valve has its fulcrum at 18, and has two arms, one of which rests upon the projecting stem of the valve, and is provided with a counter-weight, 19, suspended from the lever by a vertical rod, 20. The other arm is connected with the surface o1" the moving tank by a flexible chain, 21. It' thetank should fall to its lowest position, b, it will draw the chain 21 taut and move the lever 17 so as to'release the stem of the safety-valve, which will then open and permit free egress of gas from the supply-pipe and tank through the waste-pipe 16. The

counter-weight19 is situate at a proper distance from the surface ofthe tank 4, so that the` ascent of the latter-to a level near its highest limit will raise the eounter-weight,and by thus relieving the lever 17 of pressure will open the safety-valve and give a free escape for the gas.

Thus constructed, suppose the gas-tank to be in a position somewhat above its lowest level, with the centerb between the points b and b2, and the valves 2, 3, and 13 all open. The gas then entering the supply-pipe 8 atits adit 8a kwill traverse it in the direction ofthe arrow c, passing through the valves 3 and 2, and thence through the continuation 8b of the pipe to the furnace-burners or other place of utilization. During its course the gas has free access to the tank 4 through the pipe 5 5, and any increase or diminutionv of pressure will immediately be made apparent by a corresponding rise or fall of the tank. Suppose that the pressure of the gas should suddenly increase, by reason of those intermittent gushes so common in the distribution of natural gas. The tank will then rise, and until the intermediate point, b2, is reached will open the valve 2 wider.V On passing this point the motion of thesystem of connecting-levers 22 9 24 23 will gradually close the valves 2 and 13, and correspondingly lessen the amount of entering gas until an equilibrum is established between the gas-pressure and the gravity of the tank, when the latter will come to rest. If, however, the gush should be very excessive and sudden, the tank will rise far enough to close the valves 2 and 13 and to shut off the supply of gas entirely. It will at the same time raise the counter-weight 19 and cause the gas to escape through the waste-pipe 16. The object of the latter' action is to relieve the tank from the great pressure and to prevent the impetus thereof from raising it too far. During the period in which the valves 2 and 13 are shut the furnaces are fed by the reserve gas v contained in the tank, and as soon as enough is removed to relieve the pressure the tank begins to fall and opens the valve 2 and closes the safety-valve. an almost perfect equality of pressure will have been maintained. Suppose, on the other hand, that the tank is between the levels b3 and b2, and that the pressure of gas is dimin- :too sudden income of gas.

During all this time,

ished: the gravity of the tank will cause it to fall, and infalling to move the levers to open the valve. If the diminution of pressure be not too great,the opening of the valve will restore equilibrium and bring the tank to rest. If, however, the diminution be great, as if it be caused by shutting off the gas-supply, the tank will descend below the level b2,and in its further descent to the point b will close the valve 2 completely. The motion of the lever 9 necessary to close this valve will raise the hand-lever 10 and will shut the valve 3. All gas is then cut oft' from the tank, (if thelatter has in its operations risen far enough to close the small valve 13,) and the supply to the burners will cease altogether. The motion of the tank to the level b" vwill tighten the chain 21 and will open the safety-valve, thereby allowing any accumulation of low-pressure gas in the tank or supply-pipes to escape harmlessly through the pipe 16, and not into the combustion chamber. Another function of the safety-valve is that when the tank falls and opens it any leaking gas from the closed valves 2 and 3 will -be discharged into the open air.

In case the supply of gas should be cut off altogether, the proper mode of operation is to shutoff the burner-valves and, to throw the valve 13 open. Then when the supply recommences a small amount of it will pass from thev pipe 8 through the by-pass 12, and again into the pipe 8 forward of the valve 3. When sufficient pressure of gas lcomes, it will raise the tank 4, open the valve 2, and cut oft' the safety-valve. rlhe workman can then open the valve 3 with his hand and start the tank into regular operation, as before described.

The function of the valve 3 is to prevent a With the tankregulators now in common use the gas often venters at rst with such a rush as to throw the tank violently upward, and to cause serious injury to its mechanism. tor, however, when the tank has descended, the gas is rst admitted through the pipe 12, and is not ,allowed to enter at full pressure until the tank has risen far enough to shut or nearly shut the valve 2, when the valve 3 is opened by hand.

The peculiar function of the pipe 12 is to enable the tank to be filled without opening the larger valve 3. It is not used, and is ordinarily kept closed, except for filling the tank at the beginning of the operations of the regulator. If for any reason it should become desirable to be able to' dispense with the use of the regulating-tank, a by-pass pipe, 25, may be tted to the supply-pipe 8 back of the entrance of the .pipe 12, and made to re-enter the pipe 8 at a Apoint forward of the tank-pipe ttings. By means of this by-pass the gas may be led to the burners without at all affecting the tank. A valve, 26, serves to cut off this by-pass or to open it, as desired.

' 1 1 O In my regula- The internal construction of the valve 2 is yet to be described. IIhe supply-pipe y8 has its adit into the valve at a port, 28, and its eXit is at the other side thereof at 29.- The exit-port is closed by a tapering conical valve seat or shell, 30, through the outer side of which, and opening into the port 29, is a hole or port, 29. A conical valve, 31, open at the top and bottom, fits within the seat 30, and has two oppositely-situate lateral ports, 32, in its shell. If the valve be turned by its stem 33 to bring either one of the ports 32 opposite the exit-port of the seat, the gas will pass f'reely from the adit through the hollow valve 3l and out of the exit-port 29 into the supply-pipe. A quarter-revolution ofthe stem 33 will separate the ports of the valve and its seat, and will cut off the flow of gas through the supplypipe, while a semirevolution of the stem will bring the other port 32 opposite the portof the valve-seat,` and will reestablish free flow of gas therethrough. At intermediate points the ports will be partly in conjunction and a partial iiow of gas maintained.

Thus constructed, the valve is connected with the gas-tank by the compound system of levers shown in Fig. 1, which are so related that a movement ofthe tank from b to bl will give the valve-stem 33 a quarter-turn and will open the valve, while the movement from b2 to b3 will also give a quarter-turn and close the valve. I do not, however, desire to limit myself to the form of valve just described, since many other forms possessing the same property of opening and closing will answer the purpose. Nor do I desire to limit myself to the use of levers as a connecting mechanism between the tank and the valve 2, although it is preferable, because of its certain positive movement. In other respects a rack and pin ion and other kinds of connections are equivalents. If this valve be used as the stop-valve 3, its connecting mechanism should be so arranged that the fall of the tank will give it the necessary quarter-turn to close it.

It will be noticed that the regulator-valve and its mechanism are situate above the level of the top of the gas-tank. rThis is important, because it renders the valve easy of access, and prevents leakage of gas from doing any harm.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, Ain a gas-regulator, of a regulating-tank capable of rising and falling with the increase or diminution of gas-pressure, a gassupply pipe having a disch arge into the tank, a valve in the gas-supply pipe,whose stem is connected with the tank and capable of operation by the movements thereof, the valve and connecting mechanism being so arranged that at the complete descent of the tank the valve will be closed, that it will be open when the tank is in an intermediate position, and that when the tank has completely risen the valve will be closed, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, in a gas-regulator, of a regulating-tank capable of rising and falling pipe, said auxiliary valve being so connected with the tank as to be closed by the full descent thereof, substantially as and for thc purposes described.

3. The combination,in a gas-regulator, of a.

regulating tank capable of rising and falling with the increase or diminution of gas-press ure, Aa gas-supply pipe having a discharge into the tank,a valve in the gas-supplypipe, whose stem is connected with the tank by rigid connecting mechanism, so as to be capable of a positive operation by the movements thereof, the valve and connecting mechanism being so arranged that at the complete descent of the.

tank the valve will be closed, that it will be open when the tank is in an intermediate pov sition, and that when the tank has completely risen the valve will be closed, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination ,in a gas-regnlator,of a

regulating-tank capable of rising and fallingv with theincrease or diminution of gas-press-l ure,\a gas-supply pipe havinga discharge into the tank, a valve in the gas-supply pipe, whose stem is connected with the tank and capable of operation bythe movements thereof, a bypass pipe, 12, leading from the supply-pipe at a point back of the valve, and reentering the same at a point forward ofthe valve, and a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. rlhe combination, in a gasmegulator, of a regulating-tank capable of rising and falling withthe increase or diminution of gas-pressure, a gas-supply pipe having a discharge into the tank, a valve in the gas-supply pipe,whose Stem is connected with the tank and capable of operation by the movements thereof, abypass pipe, l2, leading from the supply-pipe at a point Vback of the valve, and re-entering the same at a point forward of the valve, and a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe, the last-named valve being connected with the tank, so as to be closed by the rise thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination, in a gas-regulator,of a regulating-tank capable of rising and falling with the increase or diminution of gas-pressure, a gas-suppl y pipe having a discharge into the tank, a valve in the gas-supply pipe,whose stem is connected with the tank and capable of operation by the movements thereof, the valve and connecting mechanism being so ar- ICO ranged that at the complete descent of the tank the valve will be closed, that it will be open when the tank is in an intermediate position, and that when the tank has completely risen the valve will be closed, an auxiliary valve for opening and closing the supply-pipe, said auxiliary valve being so connected With the tank as to be closed by the full descent thereof, a by-pass pipe, 12, leading from the supply-pipe at a point back ofthe rst-named valve and the auxiliary valve, and re-entering the pipe forward of both thereof, and a valve for opening and closing the by-pass pipe, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The combination, in a gas-regulator, of a regulating-tank capable of rising and falling with the increase or diminution of gas-pressure, a gas-supply y pipe having a dischargeinto the tank, a valve in the gas-supply pipe, Whose stem is connected With the tank and capable of operation by the movements thereof, the valve and connecting mechanism being so arranged that at the complete descent of the tank the valve will be closed, and a safetyvalve Whose adit-pipe communicates with the tank, and the supply-pipe, and Whose lever is connected with the tank, so that the safetyvalve will be opened by the complete descent thereof, substantially asand for the pury capable ofoperation by the movements thereof, the valve and connecting mechanism being so arranged that at the complete descent of the tank the valve will be closed, .lo

that it Will be open When the tank is in an intermediate position, and that when the tank has completely risen the valve will be closed, and a safety-valve Whose adit-pipe communicates with the tank and the supply-pipe,

and Whose lever is connected with the tank, sov that the safety-valve will be opened by the complete descent thereof, said lever having a counter-Weight situate in the path of the tank, for opening the safety-valve when 5o the tank approaches its vhighest point, substantially as and, for the purposes described.

9. The combination, with a rising and fall'- ing gas-tank, 4L, movable vertically Within a Water-lled tank of the nature described,of a

vertical hollow standard, 5, Which traverses the tank 4, and on which the latter moves, said standard being connected with a gas-supply pipe, and having are-entrant arm,5,which opens into the tank 4, above the level of the 6o Water, therein, for the purpose of enabling the standard to perform the double function of a gas-supply pipe and a standard, substantially as and for the purposes described.

10. The combination ofa gas-regulating tank the top of the tank, substantially as and for 7o lthe purposes described.

In testimony whereof` I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of July, A. D. 1885.

ALEXANDER W.v CADMAN.

Witnesses:

W. B. GoRWIN, THoMAs'W. BAKEWELL. 

